Man on Fire 1957

Two years after her divorce from the wealthy industrialist Earl Carleton, ex-wife Gwen Seward seeks to regain partial custody of their son, Ted Carleton, who remains devoted to his father. Earl has never gotten over losing her after introducing her to the man she left him for. The tension between love, loyalty, and money sets the stage for a high-stakes custody battle that tests everyone involved.

Gwen Seward finds new footing in a marriage to Bryan Seward, a sharp attorney who works for the State Department. Using his skill and influence, he presses to reopen the custody hearing, arguing that Gwen signed the custody agreement under emotional duress. The courtroom drama deepens as Earl is warned that any move to reclaim Ted could damage Seward’s career, while Sam Dunstock, Earl’s personal and business lawyer, gears up to argue his case. Sam’s new assistant, Nina Wylie, moves with a quiet sense of purpose, watching the dynamics between the adults as the stakes grow.

Before the hearing, the private testimony from the boy reaches Judge Randolph. He reveals a sincere preference to live with his father and a growing suspicion of his mother’s motives, leaving the judge troubled by the lack of a genuine maternal bond. The consequences unfold quickly: the judge awards Gwen full custody, and Earl sinks into an alcoholic binge, his world tipping toward collapse.

Nina Wylie steps forward to address the mounting problems, informing Earl that his neglect is hurting business matters. She cares for him when he collapses, after he asserts that he never loved Gwen and only married her for a future of control over Ted’s life. The emotional strain intensifies as Ted Carleton visits Earl to voice his unhappiness with the arrangement. With the family business grounded, Earl impulsively transfers power of attorney to Sam and announces a plan to go to Europe “for some peace of mind.”

Nina realizes Earl intends to pull Ted out of reach of the courts and warns Sam to act quickly. A tense confrontation ensues as Seward arrives just in time to stop the boy from boarding a plane, sparking a heated clash between the two men. Sam’s disgust with Earl’s self-pitying and selfish conduct grows, and when Nina admits she loves him, Earl responds with a sharp, cynical remark about women like her. He calls them “a dime a dozen,” and she hands him a dime in return.

Gwen then confesses to Nina that her desire to reclaim Ted stems from a missed opportunity to have a child with Bryan. Guilt gnaws at her as she sees the unhappiness she has caused her son, and she decides to return Ted to Earl. Earl comes to understand how deeply Gwen loves their son and convinces Ted that a change in custody is best for everyone. In the end, Earl begins a new chapter with Nina, handing back the dime as a quiet, symbolic gesture of moving forward.